User Manual

6
2: Introducing Auto-Tune 8
For pitch correction, Auto-Tune 8 employs
state-of-the-art digital signal processing
algorithms (many, interestingly enough, drawn
from the geophysical industry) to continuously
detect the pitch of a periodic input signal
(typically a solo voice or instrument) and
instantly and seamlessly change it to a desired
pitch (defined by any of a number of user-
programmable scales, MIDI input, or through
the use of graphical editing tools).
To take maximum advantage of the power of
Auto-Tune 8’s pitch correction functions, you
should have a basic understanding of pitch and
how Auto-Tune 8 functions to correct pitch
errors. This chapter presents basic terminology
and introduces Auto-Tune 8’s operating
paradigm, giving you the background you
need to use it eectively.
Later in the chapter, we’ll provide an overview
of Auto-Tune 8’s time manipulation features.
A little bit about pitch
Pitch is traditionally associated with our
perception of the “highness” or “lowness” of
a particular sound. Our perception of pitch
ranges from the very general (the high pitch
of hissing steam, the low pitch of the rumble
of Godzilla’s enormous footsteps as he stomps
his way through Tokyo) to the very specific
(the exact pitch of a solo singer or violinist).
There is, of course, a wide range of variation
in the middle. A symphony orchestra playing
a scale in unison, for example, results in an
extremely complex waveform, yet you are still
able to easily sense the pitch.
The vocalists and the solo instruments that
Auto-Tune 8 is designed to process have a very
clearly defined quality of pitch. The sound
generating mechanism of these sources is a
Some background
In 1997, Antares Audio Technologies first
introduced the ground-breaking Auto-Tune
Pitch Correcting Plug-In. Auto-Tune was a tool
that actually corrected the pitch of vocals and
other solo instruments, in real time, without
distortion or artifacts, while preserving all
of the expressive nuance of the original
performance. Recording Magazine called
Auto-Tune the “holy grail of recording.” And
went on to say, “Bottom line, Auto-Tune is
amazing… Everyone with a Mac should have
this program.” (In fact, we know of quite a few
people back then who bought kilo-buck Pro
Tools™ systems just to be able to run Auto-
Tune.)
In the intervening years, Auto-Tune has
established itself as the worldwide standard
in professional pitch and, as of Auto-Tune 7,
time correction. Today, it’s used daily by tens
of thousands of audio professionals around
the world to save studio and editing time, ease
the frustration of endless retakes, save that
otherwise once-in-a-lifetime performance, or
to create what has become the signature vocal
eect of our time.
Auto-Tune is, in fact, the world’s single largest-
selling audio plug-in.
Now, well over a decade and a half after its
introduction, Auto-Tune 8 introduces Flex-
Tune™ pitch correction technology and
establishes yet another new standard in
natural real-time pitch correction.
So what exactly is Auto-Tune 8?
Auto-Tune 8 is a precision tool for correcting
intonation and timing errors or creatively
modifying the intonation or rhythmic
articulation of a performance.